· Hard inquiries occur when you authorize someone else, such as a potential lender, to review your profile. Potential creditors do this to weigh the risk of extending you credit or renting you an apartment. Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for approximately two years, but only impact your score for 12 months.

· Soft inquiries occur when someone checks your credit for reasons other than you proactively applying for a loan or submitting a rental application, like when you check your own credit or an existing creditor is checking your file to consider whether to decrease or increase your limit on your account with them.